NORFOLK, Va. — A Portsmouth man pleaded guilty Thursday to assaulting a fellow cruise ship passenger, causing that person to be significantly injured in October, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said.
The plea from Michael Truman, 39, comes after he was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury.
The assault happened aboard the Carnival “Magic” Cruise Ship on Oct. 20, 2023. According to court documents obtained by 13News Now, Truman attacked another man in the ship's theater after the victim asked him several times to quiet down.
The victim was going to look for a crew member for help when Truman struck him in the face with a bar glass, the court documents said. Truman climbed on top of the victim and continued striking him, leaving facial lacerations that required more than a dozen stitches.
At the time of the assault, Carnival Cruise Lines told 13News Now that the assailant was confined to his room for the remainder of the cruise and was permanently banned from sailing on any Carnival cruise in the future.
Truman is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 29. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, according to the DOJ.
